Protests will be underway Thursday after bills that would allow the Philadelphia 76ers to build a new $1.3 billion arena in Center City were passed out of committee, including a $60 million community benefits agreement.

Philadelphia City Council on Thursday gave initial approval to the 76ers’ proposed Center City arena, effectively green-lighting the project ahead of an expected final vote next week. The vote in Council’s Committee of the Whole,

Roughly 70 vehicles disrupted traffic on Market Street to simulate traffic congestion before and after events at the proposed 18,500-seat arena.